A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! I was so shocked to see my inbox full this morning with messages from this site, haha. You guys are great. Just a minor note for this chapter, if you don't really understand the time altering thing in the middle just think of a tape rewinder and it should make more sense, if not, then I just fail at description. On to the story~
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Chapter 2
"Oh my." Chapel gasped as Bones entered the Medbay carrying the small Jim Kirk. She was quick to follow the doctor's side as Leonard set the toddler onto the bed. He reached for his tricorder and sat down beside the boy, scanning him while the blond happily played with Nurse Chapel.
"What a charming little boy." The nurse smiled softly, running a hand through the boy's short blond locks.
"That charming little boy is our captain." Bones commented; trying to read at the information sent to him on the small machine. The boy was completely fine, no traces of dangerous chemicals in his system or signs of infection. Nurse Chapel seemed a bit taken back by McCoy's comment and looked at the boy again, examining him closer.
"The Captain? Doctor, you cannot be serious." The blond woman turned to Leonard.
"Oh, but I'm very serious, Nurse." McCoy scowled slightly and put his tricorder away.
"What shall we do with him?" Chapel asked, turning to smile at the boy on the bed. She could begin to see the small resemblance in the two year old and the older Jim Kirk that she knew. The boy's hair was a tad lighter, but there was no mistaking those striking blue eyes that stared at her now.
"Well first, he needs to get changed." Bones murmured, eyes moving towards his assistant. The woman stared back at the doctor in turn, battling the scowl that was appearing on his face. He eventually lost.
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"Can you say 'Bones'?" McCoy asked, dragging his chair forward to sit in front of the toddler on his desk. With nothing else to do, he had taken to teaching his captain a few words and names so he wouldn't simply whine a 'yes' or 'no' around people. Jim had managed to say 'Spock' and 'Sulu' easily enough, but still struggled with other names such as 'Uhura" or "Chapel".
The boy nibbled at large collar of his newly cleaned shirt quietly and looked at the doctor in confusion. The older man ran his hands down his face in exhaustion. People were doing their jobs and here he was stuck babysitting.
As if it were any more possible, Jim in his toddler self seemed to attract more girls than his older self and Bones had to practically fight them off from hugging at the young captain when they wandered by the sickbay. The only woman that McCoy actually trusted enough let touch Jim so far had been Nurse Chapel, who had recently made the boy something to eat. The toddler seemed quite taken with her as well.
"Bones!" The doctor suddenly raised his head from his hands and stared at the blond. The boy was grinning now, clasping his hands together. "Bones! Bones! Bones!" The toddler repeated happily and McCoy couldn't help but grin.
"I guess we can go on to another one now then." The doctor murmured, crossing his arms and setting them on the desk so he could rest his chin there. "Can you say Leonard McCoy? McCoy?"
The boy paused for a moment and stared at the older man before trying the new name. "'Coy!"
"No…McCoy. Try again." Bones said, as the boy's attention switched to the doctor's arms, trying to pull them away from their folded position.
"'Coy."
"McCoy."
" 'Coy!"
The doctor raised his arms in defeat and the toddler copied him and raised his arms as well. Bones sighed heavily, and continued to watch the small boy. Even in his toddler stage, Jim managed to annoy McCoy the same way that he usually did. 'Lucky punk, first he's captain now people are changing his diapers, everything is cut out for James frikin T. Kirk.'
"Spock!" The small boy quickly greeted, pointing at the Vulcan entering. Spock gave a short nod as he stepped passed the doorway and approached the tired Bones sitting at his desk.
"So have you found anything yet?" McCoy asked lowly, staring at Jim, who was pulling at the First Officer's shirt when he came close enough. Bones was quick to stop Kirk from standing on the desk when the boy tried to reach up to touch for he thought would be Spock's ears. The Vulcan continued to stand unfazed, giving Jim a small stare as Bones set him on his lap where he couldn't run around.
"Indeed, we have." The First Officer answered, quickly pulling a small broken vial from behind him and handing it to McCoy. "We found it in the biochemistry labs; the vial had been holding a time altering substance."
"Time altering?"
"The substance was often used during explorations in time altering planets that quicken one's growth. The main idea is for it to assist one's body in returning to its original age. " Spock continued to explain. "It is completely harmless and the captain is in no danger what so ever. Though ironically the only way to be rid of its influence is time itself."
"So you're saying there's no actual cure and that we're just going to have to wait for the stuff to wear off on him and he goes back to normal?" Bones asked, turning for a second to snatch his PADD out of Jim's hands. "That's not a toy."
"Want it. Want it!" Jim complained. "Nooo."
"That is correct." Spock nodded slightly.
"And how long will this take exactly?" Bones inquired, while trying to keep his PADD out of reach from the distressed Jim. The boy waved his legs and arms trying to get free, while moaning in annoyance.
"The average time for one to return to their original self is an estimated ten hours depending on the amount of the substance taken." The half-Vulcan began. "Seeing as the Captain has ingested more than the usual amount, the time for his recovery shall be an estimated 168 hours or simply put, one week."
"One week?!" McCoy suddenly exclaimed catching both Jim and Spock off guard. "I can't babysit for a week! Are you out of your Vulcan mind?!"
"You may rest assured that while the Captain shall slowly age, he will come to an age when your supervision is no longer completely necessary."
"So what you're telling me, instead of just babysitting a toddler, we'll be seeing even a teenage Jim running around eventually?" Leonard asked curiously; almost afraid of the half-Vulcan's coming answer.
"Indeed."
"I'd rather change diapers than play youth worker for a teenaged Captain going through puberty!" Bones growled, which caused the boy to flinch and show a small tint of fear in his face. He began to cry.
Leonard groaned and forced himself to calm down, loosening his hold around the toddler. He began bouncing Jim on his lap to stop him from struggling in his arms and relax somewhat. The boy quickly stopped and let himself enjoy the bouncing sensation while his small hands settled down over Bones' as the two men continued to talk.
"Depending at the speed of his recovery, the captain's memory may return by that time and be much simpler to manage." Spock pointed out, in a tone that sounded almost comforting to the doctor.
"The possibility of having Jim back but stuck in a teens body that exciting of an idea either." Bones ran a hand across his face. He really wasn't cut out for this. He began making a mental list of all the things Jim would have to pay him back with, the first thing being a drink and maybe a very extended shore leave. "Anything else I need to know about, Spock?"
"No, that would be all." The other man said plainly and Bones simply waved him off. When the half-Vulcan left, McCoy closed his eyes tiredly. The kid would probably need a nap soon and Bones really wouldn't mind joining him for a short while. He felt a small tug at his shirt and opened his eyes slightly.
"Muh'coy." Jim murmured up at the frustrated looking man above him. Bones glanced down at the frowning boy on his lap and sighed, running a hand over his head.
"Good job."
